Rutte confirms Ukraine’s NATO membership out of the question

Russia has long identified Kiev’s aspirations to join the bloc as among the key causes of the conflict

NATO membership for Kiev is off the table in efforts undertaken by the US and Russia to achieve peace in the Ukraine conflict, the bloc’s Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed. Speaking on Bloomberg TV on Friday following his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Rutte said any security guarantees for Kiev should be discussed after a peace deal or a ceasefire are in place.

Ukraine has long demanded a seat within NATO as a security guarantee for ending the conflict with Russia. Moscow, however, has cited Kiev’s NATO ambitions as being among the root causes of the conflict in the first place, and has called for Ukraine’s neutrality as a foundation for any settlement.

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